Hi fellow Aggies! I’m Laurel Denyer, class of 2021. I found Global Disease Biology out of a desire for the scientific classes I was taking for my original major in Cell Biology to be complemented with a more comprehensive view of how environments impact health. I loved the flexibility of the major, which allowed me to explore classes on vector-borne diseases and climate change, as well as health policy and population health. It also allowed me to enjoy my time as president of a UC Davis dance club team and working as a research assistant in Dr. Falbe’s lab.
Hello fellow aggies! My name is Lucia, and I am from South San Francisco. I’m a proud GDB alumna currently pursuing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program in Clovis (Central California), with a growing passion for Family Medicine. Back when I was in UC Davis, I loved volunteering in service and community outreach through clubs like the American Red Cross, as well as the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.
I grew up in the Sacramento area and am a first-generation college student. I earned both my B.S. and PhD. From UC Davis, I have experienced the campus as an undergraduate student, graduate student, and now faculty in the same department that I was an undergraduate and now teaching the classes I took when I was a student. See pics from my undergraduate graduation (2007) to faculty speaker at the recent 2025 Spring Commencement!
This month’s episode features GDB student, Morgan Streeter. Morgan's practicum project is on environmental transmission of pathogenic E. coli from dairy cows. They are completing their practicum project under the guidance of their PI, Dr. Robert Atwill. NOTE: Dr. Atwill is not accepting applications currently.
Hey everyone!! My name is Peyton, a third-year GDB major from Fremont, CA. I originally came to UC Davis as an undeclared BioSci major, but after learning about GDB’s focus on the One Health model and how human, animal, and environmental health are all connected, I switched as soon as possible. I couldn’t decide which field I liked most, and GDB let me explore all of them. I’m currently an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Lisa Baik’s lab studying the sensory system of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and how that knowledge can be used in vector-borne disease prevention.
Hi there! My name is Miranda, and I graduated in the class of 2017. I changed majors a few times before finding Global Disease Biology, and honestly it was one of the best decisions I made at UC Davis. I was fascinated with the material and finally felt confident that I would be set up for success after graduating. The major gave me a deep understanding of the complex connections between human, animal, and environmental health which opened my eyes to the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in real-world issues.
The GDB office is pleased to announce that Anjolie Doan, one of our own GDB students, is the laureate of the Charles Hess Community Service Award for 2025.
According to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Charles Hess Community Awards recognize students who have demonstrated outstanding public or community service.
My name is Joey, and I am a 3rd year GDB major. I came into UC Davis as a Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology major, but discovered my interest in epidemiology and switching to GDB has been one of the best decisions I've made! GDB allows me to incorporate my passions for wildlife, human health, and biostatistics into my restricted electives, and the major-specific classes all have excellent professors from a wide-array of health professions.
How did you decide to study Plant Pathology, Disease, and Epidemiology?
My primary interest is to understand molecular mechanisms regulating animal behavior and physiology. I fit well into the Department of Entomology and Nematology because I use insects as animal models. I also leverage my expertise in molecular biology and genomics to contribute to insect pest management. I decide to study animal behavior and physiology because I am curious as to why and how animals respond to changes in their environment in order to survive.
As GDB students, One Health is the cornerstone of our degree. The One Health approach recognizes the growing connection between the health of animals, people, plants, and the environment. The effects of one group can have major impacts on the health and wellbeing of the others, for better or for worse. When faced with a scenario concerning the health of any of these three groups, we must consider that they do not exist in isolation to understand the full context of the situation.
"Hi everyone! My name is J’adore Bailey, and I am a fourth-year Global Disease Biology (GDB) student at UC Davis from Los Angeles, CA. Since transferring to Davis last year, my journey in the GDB program has been driven by my passion for adopting a One Health perspective. To me, the GDB major means looking outside of the box for solutions to our problems and considering every factor, even those that may not be in plain sight.
One Health is a central component of the GDB major and having a thorough understanding of One Health can not only help you in your GDB classes, but will also help shape your perception of disease control and prevention throughout your career. One Health is a disease control and prevention approach that recognizes the connection of the health of people to the health of animals and the environment (CDC 2024). A One Health approach involves the collaboration of experts from
